With support from the Organic Dynamics Program, Dr. Waymouth will investigate the mechanism and stereochemistry of stereospecific catalysis and cyclopolymerization with Group IV metallocenes. Specific aims are as follows: (i) to develop detailed understanding of the mechanism and stereochemistry of cyclopolymerization with homogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts, (ii) to exploit the cyclopolymerization methodology to synthesize a variety of main-chain chiral polymers, and (iii) to apply mechanistic principles for the design of second generation metallocene catalysts for olefin hydrogenation, polymerization, and diolefin cyclization reactions. %%% Although Ziegler and Natta announced their discovery of heterogeneous catalysis nearly 40 years ago, surprisingly little is known about the mechanism of these reactions. Dr. Waymouth has developed a new class of soluble catalysts that offer the potential for gaining new mechanistic insight into polymerization reactions. It is likely that an increased level of understanding of polymerization mechanisms will result from Dr. Waymouth's investigations. This, in turn, is expected to lead to the development of valuable new synthetic polymers.
